The Best Things To Do in L.A.

"Los Angeles is more than just a city, it's the ultimate playground, a mishmash of neighborhoods, people, and different ways of life wedged in between an ocean, mountain ranges, rivers, lakes, and national parks. It is home to some of the world's best art and culture, it is America's capital of street food, and it is an international icon of glitz and glamour. Yes, there's plenty to do here - in fact, too much to do" - Excerpt from, The Best Things to Do in Los Angeles: 1001 Ideas by Joy Yoon.

Los Angeles is vast and a discerning tourist can easily feel at a loss for where to begin. A new guidebook, The Best Things to Do in Los Angeles: 1001 Ideas by Joy Yoon ($20, Rizzoli), will quickly turn any newbie to a bona-fide local. LA native, Joy Yoon's descriptions cut out the obvious and mundane and instead focus on the pleasure of discovering LA's nooks and crannies.

The guidebook is organized by theme, for example, "The Classics" chapter covers old Hollywood, "Views and Sights" points out the best vistas and scenic drives, "The Great Outdoors" talks about outdoor cinemas and music venues as well as the best surfing spots. There are chapters on dining, literature, the arts, shopping, car culture, and a special chapter devoted to things you can truly only find in LA. The book is also liberally peppered with essays by expert contributors like The Standard, Hollywood Box artist Shaniqwa Jarvis, Paul Mittleman, Flea, Ludo Lefebvre, Sasha Spielberg, and Gary Baseman.